Jakarta,apccsec.org Three Philippine banks said they are considering bids for the government's majority stake in unlisted, medium-sized lender United Coconut Planters Bank - a deal expected to be worth at least 16.1 billion pesos ($360 million).The Finance Department said on Sunday that in addition to paying for the government's 73.9 percent stake - equivalent to around 1.1 billlion pesos - the winning bidder must inject at least 15 billion pesos in capital.Security Bank Corp, the

Jakarta,apccsec.org Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) said on Wednesday that its 12,123 U.S. shops would begin offering coconut milk on Feb. 17, as it seeks to keep pace with soaring demand for non-dairy and non-soy milk alternatives.Starbucks began offering soy milk in 1997. Consumer tastes have since evolved, driving strong demand for other non-dairy alternatives made from products such as coconuts, hemp, rice, almonds and other nuts.

Jakarta,apccsec.org The 35th annual Natural Products Expo West, claiming to be the world's largest natural, organic and healthy products event, drew more than 71,000 to the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center March 4-8.Two interesting themes we noticed: yogurts made from everything but cow's milk and claiming nationalities other than Greek, and coconut flakes (not coconut water, which is so last year). A combination of two of those

Papua New Guinea,apccsec.org More than 27 participants from international and regional institutes and four Pacific countries participated in two workshops, from 24 to 29 April 2015, in Madang and Port Moresby, to develop plans to assist in securing the threatened international coconut collection of the South Pacific, which is held at the Stewart Research Station in Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The threat comes from the Bogia Coconut Syndrome (BCS) disease complex, which is